Health

Tyrone's All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Niall Morgan: Off the pitch, I can be quite insecure

Gail Bell asks experts and people in the public eye what keeps them going. This week: Tyrone GAA goalkeeper and All-Ireland winner, Niall Morgan

Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan. Picture by Seamus Loughran.
Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan. Picture by Seamus Loughran. Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan. Picture by Seamus Loughran.
1

Up and at it – what is your new morning routine? How has it changed?

Mornings, for me, are anything but routine. They depend completely on what time the children waken up - I'm just always hoping that Ciara gets up with whoever wakens first. Every morning I shower, get dressed and then figure out what I have time for in terms of breakfast before brushing my teeth and heading off to school or training.

2

What might you eat in a typical working day for...Breakfast?

The average morning would be two bagels with butter and jam, banana, glass of orange juice and a glass of water.

Lunch?

Some form of chicken dish (Bang bang, curry, tomato-based...) and rice or pasta.

Evening meal?

Again, some form of meat and carbs. On training nights I will have rice or pasta; on non-training evenings it will be mash or wraps. At the weekend I'll always have steak, garlic cubes, veg and peppered sauce.

3

Have you been able to work from home – if so, how have you found it?

As a teacher, I worked from home when directed. I found this very difficult as there was limited interaction with the children in the class so it was hard to gauge how they were getting on. It was a stressful time for all involved and parents were under a lot of pressure to balance their own jobs and home life, as well as help to teach their children.

4

Best/easiest lockdown meal?

I try to make all my cooking as easy as possible - I enjoyed making chicken pizza which uses a butterflied chicken breast as the base of the pizza instead of dough.

5

Weekend treat?

I don't wait for the weekend. If I want something, I have it. I don't think people should punish themselves for wanting a treat as long as they are working off the calories that they are taking in. I know I am always training hard enough to keep my weight healthy and balanced.

6

How have you kept physically and mentally fit during the lockdowns?

During lockdown we obviously couldn't train as a team, so after a few weeks of football training individually, the novelty wore off. I started to do some running and really enjoyed it. I got up to half-marathon distance which I was really proud of as I wouldn't be known for covering any distance during games. We are back training now, though, and I love being in a team environment.

7

What has been your daily outdoor exercise?

Now that we are back training, we are on the pitch three or four times a week. During lockdown, aside from the running, we went for walks as a family which gave us good time to chat without our phones or TV distractions.

8

How do you relax?

I like to watch movies or a good TV series while lying up on the couch with a cup of tea and maybe some toast and chocolate... every night.

9

Teetotal or tipple?

I stopped drinking for 15 months a couple of years ago but I do drink occasionally now. I enjoy a pint of Guinness or a Jameson and ginger ale.

10

What book are you currently reading?

Bill Walsh, The Score Takes Care of Itself.

11

Best Netflix?

Drive to Survive - I would have had zero interest in Formula 1 before I watched this, but I will definitely be tuning in next year.

12

Most surprising thing you've learned about yourself?

Even though I have a lot of confidence in my abilities on the pitch, off the pitch I can be quite insecure. I am glad I have a great family around me and a close circle of friends that I can trust.

13

On a scale of one to 10, where have you been in relation to cabin fever and where are you now?

During the strictest lockdown restrictions, I always made sure to get out and exercise. I was still around three on the scale, but I had a newborn son at the start of 2020 so I got lots of time with him and my wife. Being someone who is used to being in a team environment though, I found it difficult not interacting with team members in a face-to-face way. It is great to be getting back to some form of normality, so I'm back close to 10 now.

14

What are the three things you missed most during the beginning of lockdown?

Meeting family members, eating out and going to training.

15

Where will you go and what will you do when restrictions are fully lifted?

At this stage, the majority of restrictions are thankfully gone. It will be nice when we can all walk about mask-free again and travel without worrying about tests and lateral flows.

16

Biggest gripe?

Fake people or hangers-on.

17

Have your priorities in life or perspectives changed?

Yes. I will never miss out on something I really want to do any more. Life is certainly for living.

18

Any new skills or hobbies?

A bit of baking, but once life got back to some normality, that went out the window, unfortunately.

19

What would you like to see change for good when this is all over?

People to slow down a little and appreciate that what is really important in their life may not mean much to someone else. We should all try to recognise this and not try to drag people with us.

20

Has coronavirus changed your attitude towards your own mortality?

I have always been afraid of death, to an extent. No-one knows what, if anything, happens next, so I suppose it is more a fear of the unknown. It scares me to think that everything I have achieved from family, sport, work and friendships could all be gone in an instant - and, realistically, forgotten about.